The literal word meanings are roughly as follows: Sh'ma: literally means listen, heed, or hear and do (according to the Targum, accept) Yisrael: Israel, in the sense of the people or congregation of Israel Adonai: often translated as "L ORD", it is read in place of the YHWH written in the Hebrew text Samaritans say Shema, which is Aramaic for "the Name" and is the exact equivalent of the Hebrew ha-Shem, which Rabbinic Jews substitute for Adonai in a non-liturgical context such as everyday speech. For that reason, the Shema is recited aloud as Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad ("Hear, O Israel: the L ORD is our God, the L ORD is One.") Rabbinic Judaism teaches that the Tetragrammaton (י-ה-ו-ה), YHWH, is the ineffable and actual name of God, and as such is not read aloud in the Shema but is traditionally replaced with אדני, Adonai ("L ORD"). Sh'ma Yisra'el, YHWH 'eloheinu, YHWH 'eḥad: The first, pivotal words of the Shema are: The first paragraph of the Shema seen in a Tefillin scroll Modern Kabbalistic schools, namely that of the Ari, teach that when one recites the last letter of the word ecḥad (אחד), meaning "one", he is to intend that he is ready to "die into God". The idea thus conveyed is that through the recitation or proclamation of the Shema one is a living witness testifying to the truth of its message. There are two larger-print letters in the first sentence ('ayin ע and daleth ד) which, when combined, spell "עד". As the Ten Commandments were removed from daily prayer in the Mishnaic period (70–200 CE), the Shema is seen as an opportunity to commemorate the Ten Commandments. Literally, reciting the shema was stated as "receiving the kingdom of heaven." Īdditionally, the Talmud points out that subtle references to the Ten Commandments can be found in the three portions. In the Mishnah (Berakhot 2:5) the reciting of the shema was linked with re-affirming a personal relationship with God's rule. The three portions relate to central issues of Jewish belief. The three portions are mentioned in the Mishnah (Berachot 2:2). The recitation of the Shema in the liturgy, however, consists of three portions: Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21, and Numbers 15:37–41. Originally, the Shema consisted of only one verse: Deuteronomy 6:4 (see Talmud Sukkah 42a and Berachot 13b).
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